A Lady Goes West

A healthy lifestyle blog by Ashley Pitt

  • Home
    • Popular Posts
  • About
  • Fitness
    • Les Mills Group Fitness
    • Workouts
    • Fitness Tips
    • Class Reviews
  • Food
    • What I Ate Wednesday
    • Recipes
  • Clean Beauty
  • Mom Life
    • Fit & Fertile Book
    • Baby
    • Pregnancy
    • Postpartum
  • Press
  • Contact
    • Privacy Policy

Les Mills BODYPUMP 93 class review

April 21, 2015 By Ashley 44 Comments

Hello all! It’s about that time for a review of the latest Les Mills BODYPUMP group fitness release number 93. 

But first, let me share these fun facts with you …

  • BODYPUMP features more than 800 reps per class, resulting in the “rep effect,” which helps people to tone and shape their bodies without lifting super-heavy weights
  • BODYPUMP is the original barbell class, delivered and enjoyed in more than 80 countries across the globe
  • Every single BODYPUMP release builds off of the last, creating an ever-changing, but always high-quality program, grounded in a standard format of 10 songs
  • BODYPUMP offers total-body strength-training moves choreographed to top tunes, and people become completely addicted to it

Pretty good stuff, right? 

My history with and love for Les Mills group fitness 

It’s clear that I’m a huge believer in the power of working out in the group setting and Les Mills group fitness programs in general. In fact, the first time I ever lifted weights was in a Les Mills BODYPUMP class. Fast forward to today, more than six years later, and I’m an instructor of the class, as well as an instructor of several other Les Mills programs and am a certified personal trainer. I think it’s safe to say that BODYPUMP has been a game-changer for me, as well as for many other people. I’ve seen so many participants throughout the years change their lives by improving their fitness, body and health, just by attending regular classes. They attend those classes because they enjoy them. There’s just something different about a Les Mills workout. The moves are choreographed to great music, and the energy is high. And Les Mills continues to innovate by “releasing” brand new moves and music to instructors around the world every three months.

The 24 Hour Fitness gyms in the San Francisco Bay Area where I teach “launched” or “debuted” the latest Les Mills releases during the first week of April. I’ve been teaching the latest releases for a couple of weeks, so now I’m ready to share my feedback with you. (If you need a primer on all things BODYPUMP first, check out “BODYPUMP overview and tips for first-timers.”)

Les Mills BODYPUMP 93 review via A Lady Goes West

Overall feedback on BODYPUMP 93

  • This is a solid release, but not my favorite.
  • I think the chest, lunge and shoulder tracks are the most challenging. 
  • The music is incredibly diverse, from alternative rock, to pop, to techno, with some very trendy and obscure tunes included.
  • We get the chance to work without the barbell in the chest, triceps, biceps and shoulders tracks, which is very beneficial for participants, because their dominant side is not always powering the barbell and developing muscle imbalances.
  • There seems to be less recovery throughout the tracks of the release, which I like, because it gives you more bang for your buck in your workout.
  • There are no major new moves or break-throughs in this release. In fact, it carries on many of the same themes as BODYPUMP 92.

BODYPUMP 93 class review

Here’s a track-by-track breakdown …

  1. Warm-up: “Break Free” by Ariana Grande feat. Zedd. This is a catchy, happy and popular song to start the workout with just enough energy to fill the room. This warm-up begins right away with the usual moves like deadlifts, upright rows, squats, lunges and even a chance to use small weight-plates to properly heat up the shoulder muscles with some side-raises and side-rotator-raises. I think this is the first time we’ve done the single clean-and-press/deadrow combination in the warm-up, which is a great chance to try the full move with a light bar. Overall, this is a good way to set the tone and open the workout.
  2. Squats: “Booyah” by Showtek feat. We Are Loud & Sonny Wilson. This squat song is four sets, three of which are done in mid-stance to target the quads. There is an isometric hold combination, which makes the work in the muscles seem a bit more intense. While I like the beat of this song, I wish there were more words to make it more exciting. This track is nearly six minutes long, but I don’t think it’s the hardest squat track we’ve ever had. Overall, it’s just okay.
  3. Chest: “King and Queens” by Thirty Seconds to Mars. I have very mixed feelings about this track. I don’t like the very somber tone of the song, but I do like the slow isolated work we do with the chest-fly move. This entire track is done with just two large plates, laying back on the benchtop. Because of that, I think there is a great opportunity for people to truly feel their chests working, if they get their arms wide enough into a properly executed fly. However, it takes a lot of coaching to get people there, as most people attempt to do an easier chest pressing motion with the elbows too narrow. I really like the exercise progression in this track and focus on slow moves, but the song is a sleeper. 
  4. Back: “Here Tonight” by Dash Berlin & Jay Cosmic. Good one! This track features three completely identical sets with deadrows, triple deadrows, clean-and-press/deadrow combinations and power-presses. I think the song fits well with the moves, and the exercises offer just the right amount of intensity. The breaks are super short, and the two power-presses in a row are just what we need to hit a peak at the end of each set. Overall, this a very strong back track.
  5. Triceps: “Bang Bang” vs. Jessie J., Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj. Super fun one! While we usually have a couple of fun songs in a release, the tone of BODYPUMP 93 is incredibly serious until this point, so this poppy triceps track is needed. We only use one large plate the whole time for overhead extensions, then kickback rows. I find the two sets of triceps push-ups quite challenging after all the weighted work. My class participants seem to love this track, and I’d agree. There is plenty of challenge, with the right amount of fun, smack dab in the middle of class.
  6. Biceps: “Centuries” by Fall Out Boy. In this track, we use two plates instead of a barbell, which I’m always a fan of for the ability to work each side on its own. The moves go perfectly with this rock song, so I really like teaching this track. While it’s a challenging track, it’s totally doable and gives a great burn. There are five sets and nearly five minutes, so it’s a long one for biceps. Overall, it’s a strong track.
  7. Lunges: “1941” by Klapyex feat. Virian. I just love this song! I had never heard it before, and it’s so fun and different. For this track, we use the barbell the entire time for a few squats and tons of lunges. I know that participants prefer to have actual lunges in the lunge track (as in previous releases there have been little to no traditional lunges), so this one certainly delivers in that regard. There are plenty of tempo changes and bottom-halves to really fatigue the legs. Without any real breaks, this track packs a punch. Overall, my favorite song of the release!
  8. Shoulders: “Twisted” by Fedde le Grand. This is one of the hardest shoulders tracks we’ve had in a while. Push-ups start and end the track, and there are four sets in between with the barbell and plates. I love the very short, but very intense sets with the bar, in which the last one features a tough military set stance. The song is actually pretty cool and goes well with the moves. Overall, this is a very strong track and just what we need to finish the weighted portion of class.
  9. Core: “All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor. We don’t need any equipment for this final working track of the class. This is not a hard core track at all, but it’s a good one because of the single-leg bridge work included throughout. I love it when a core track includes moves to target the back-side of the body as well as the front. This is a popular and catchy tune, which participants seem to enjoy. It goes by quickly and is a good counter to the intensity of the shoulder track completed just before. 
  10. Cool-down: “What Are You Waiting For” by Nickelback. This is a short and simple cool-down, which basically gets the job done. I’m never totally satisfied with the amount of time allotted for stretching after such a tough workout, but I realize that the combination of tracks needs to run less than an hour to keep classes moving along on the schedule without backing up. Decent song to finish up the release. 

*There are also alternate chest and triceps tracks, which I have not taught. I generally stick to the original line-up with every release.

For instructors

I found this release very easy to learn because of all the repetition. However, I practiced this one with weights quite a bit, to get the feel of some of the more challenging tracks. As a reminder, it’s important to find and locate new people in the class and let them know that they can leave after the first four tracks, as this is something stressed in the education and notes portion of the release. Other than that, work on your timing and tempo, because that is critical in many of the tracks on this release. And if you’re looking for a few tips on how to pack your classes, check out my post on “Top 10 ways to grow your group fitness classes.” 

For participants

Go up in weight! It’s time to start challenging yourself, and BODYPUMP 93 can be the release to do that. Just pick a couple of tracks and add some extra weight on your bar. In order to keep getting stronger, you have to keep testing your limits, so don’t be scared. And if you want to make sure you’re getting the most of the other classes you take, check out my tips on “How to get better results from group fitness.”

That about does it for BODYPUMP 93! I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the next release.

Enjoy more Les Mills information

As you can see, I have a lot to say about Les Mills. If you want to read a little bit more, please check out some of my previous posts:

  • BODYPUMP 101 overview and tips for first-timers
  • BODYATTACK 101 overview and tips for first-timers
  • CXWORX 101 overview and tips for first-timers
  • CXWORX Initial Training
  • BODYATTACK Initial Training
  • BODYPUMP Advanced Instructor Module 1
  • BODYPUMP Advanced Instructor Module 2
  • Les Mills Groundworks
  • BODYATTACK Certification
  • How to learn Les Mills choreography
  • BODYPUMP 89 review and launch
  • BODYATTACK 84 review
  • Everything you need to know about Les Mills
  • BODYATTACK Advanced Instructor Module 1
  • BODYATTACK 85 review
  • BODYPUMP 90 review
  • BODYATTACK 86 review
  • BODYPUMP 91 review
  • How to maximize your results in group fitness classes
  • Les Mills Good Protein review
  • Top 10 ways to grow your group fitness classes
  • Most popular Les Mills questions answered
  • BODYPUMP 92 review
  • BODYATTACK 87 review
  • What to expect from a Les Mills Super Quarterly

That’s it, guys! I hope you have lovely Tuesday! See you back here tomorrow for some talk about food.

Questions of the day

Have you ever taken a BODYPUMP class?

For instructors or participants, what are your thoughts on BODYPUMP 93?

What type of music do you like to work out to?

Ashley signature

 

 

Follow along with me on Bloglovin‘, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.

Filed Under: BODYPUMP, Class reviews, Group Fitness, Healthy living, Les Mills Tagged With: BODYPUMP, BODYPUMP 93 class review, Group Fitness, Les Mills group fitness, workouts

SIGN UP FOR A FREE GIFT

Get a free "How to have a great week of workouts" checklist and action plan when you sign up for the list. And you'll get new posts by email.

About Ashley

I'm a mom and fitness instructor in Charlotte, North Carolina. And A Lady Goes West is where I share fitness, wellness and clean beauty tips, as well as stories from my life.
 
Stay in touch ...
Bloglovin', Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & Facebook.

Comments

  1. Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious says

    April 21, 2015 at 4:13 am

    So makes me want to take a Body Pump class right now! One these days I’ll find a place that offers classes near me because my gym does not.
    Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious recently posted…Cash Giveaway April 2015My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 21, 2015 at 6:52 am

      Hi Megan! Yes you need to do some research and find a gym near you offering classes. However, you definitely want to take the class more than a few times to get a feel for it! Hope you do one day! 🙂 Happy Tuesday!

      Reply
  2. Susie @ SuzLyfe says

    April 21, 2015 at 4:15 am

    Blow your mind: I’ve never done a Les Mills class of any type!
    Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…Marathon Training with a Chronic Illness (Living with Crohn’s Disease)My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 21, 2015 at 6:52 am

      This must change, Susie! This MUST change! 🙂

      Reply
    • Jenna says

      April 21, 2015 at 11:28 am

      Susie!! You would love it! Must try for sure.

      Reply
  3. Gretchen | Gretchruns says

    April 21, 2015 at 4:56 am

    My gym’s version of bodypump also did a new release recently. It’s really tough but all the music is great so it motivated me to keep pushing! I really noticed a difference when I started adding more weight each class. I have some definition now, which definitely wasn’t there when I would keep the same weight week after week!
    Gretchen | Gretchruns recently posted…Why I Run: TOTRMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 21, 2015 at 6:52 am

      Hi Gretchen! Yup, you’ve got to keep adding it on the bar! Good work! Happy Tuesday to you, lady!

      Reply
  4. carissajade says

    April 21, 2015 at 5:26 am

    Nice Ashley! Thanks for all the good info. I’ve been wanting to take a body pump class and have heard nothing but great things. Am gonna seriously think about it! I need a change up in my workouts.
    carissajade recently posted…Create A Thought Box To Strengthen Writing HabitsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 21, 2015 at 6:51 am

      If you’re in need of a change and have access to BODYPUMP. GO FOR IT!! It’s such a good challenge, Carissa. I mean it!

      Reply
  5. Jessica @ Prayers and Apples says

    April 21, 2015 at 6:08 am

    Ahh… I was just telling Kim over at Fittin Pretty that her posts make me miss my group classes!! (I currently live pretty far away from a gym)… Ahhh, I think your post just sent me over the edge *Closes computer/Runs to closest class* lol 🙂
    Jessica @ Prayers and Apples recently posted…A Funny Little Story About Rocket FuelMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 21, 2015 at 6:50 am

      Hi Jessica! Oh that must be hard! Maybe you can make a weekend pilgrimage to a gym that has classes? Hope you can get your fix soon! And have a great Tuesday while you’re at it!

      Reply
  6. Jen @ Pretty Little Grub says

    April 21, 2015 at 6:52 am

    Oh yay! I can’t wait to try out this newest release.
    Jen @ Pretty Little Grub recently posted…I Confess…My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 21, 2015 at 6:55 am

      Yay, Jen! Let me know how you like it!! Happy Tuesday! 🙂
      Ashley recently posted…Les Mills BODYPUMP 93 class reviewMy Profile

      Reply
  7. Georgie says

    April 21, 2015 at 6:53 am

    I really enjoy Body Pump. Unfortunately the gym I’m at now doesn’t offer any classes, but when I used to do Body Pump at school (we had some amazing free classes) I loved it! It was such a great way to learn basic lifts without being intimidated by the weight room. My favorite workout jams are upbeat EDM-esque but I’ve been loving Matt & Kim’s new album lately.

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 21, 2015 at 6:55 am

      Hi Georgie! I hope you get back to a Les Mills-offering gym soon! And EDM is definitely great to listen to. I also like the BPM station on Sirius! Hope you have an awesome day! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Annette@FitnessPerks says

    April 21, 2015 at 7:43 am

    Solid review, Ashley!! I’ll be posting sometime this week too 🙂 #greatminds

    I agree-the squat track could def be harder–adding bottom halves or something. I totally love basically every song-music wise. Which almost never happens!
    Annette@FitnessPerks recently posted…Another Year My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 21, 2015 at 8:30 am

      Hi Annette! I know, overall it’s a good one! And I guess we’re always ready to talk about it at the same time being that we launch at the same time at 24. Right? 🙂 Happy pumping, my friend!
      Ashley recently posted…Les Mills BODYPUMP 93 class reviewMy Profile

      Reply
  9. Hayley @ Full of Life says

    April 21, 2015 at 7:54 am

    As I told you before, I <3 Bodypump. I actually don't love most group exercise classes I've tried but this is the exception. I really hope to get back into it when my knee is 100%! Especially since WC Supersport is so close to me 🙂
    Hayley @ Full of Life recently posted…Red CarpetMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 21, 2015 at 8:31 am

      Well once you are ready for it, you also have to take my BODYATTACK class, Hayley! Les Mills classes are awesome! Hope all is well! Happy Tuesday!
      Ashley recently posted…Les Mills BODYPUMP 93 class reviewMy Profile

      Reply
  10. Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries says

    April 21, 2015 at 8:01 am

    Great review! I always love reading these. I’m with you – the chest song can be challenging if you do the fly right, but I don’t love the song … and, yes, the lunges and shoulder tracks are definitely a challenge, but I love it. Overall, I was really happy with the music choices in this release (maybe except for the chest track), and the workout was a good challenge, but definitely one you could likely increase your weight in at least a few tracks. I’ll be posting more of my thoughts in my review soon too. 😉
    Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries recently posted…Tabata-Style Circuit WorkoutMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 21, 2015 at 8:32 am

      Agreed, Ashley! I love the chest fly, personally, because even I feel more engagement in the chest muscles than a compound press, so I like that change for this release. But of course, we’ll see what’s up for the next round. Looking forward to your thoughts as well! 🙂 Happy Tuesday!
      Ashley recently posted…Les Mills BODYPUMP 93 class reviewMy Profile

      Reply
  11. Diane says

    April 21, 2015 at 8:51 am

    The shoulder track absolutely kills me!! But I have to say that it pumps me up as well and during the final set of pushups even though I’m soooo tired, I crank out the last 8 pushups on my toes which is a new one for me. 😉 The first time I did this release the instructor showed chest & biceps with plates but we all use the bar now and it burns so much more. Awesome review!
    Diane recently posted…Adventures in French customer service & a winery visitMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 21, 2015 at 6:32 pm

      Hi Diane! I really like using the plates for the chest track, but I know some people are more comfortable with the bar. And that’s so awesome you’re getting on your toes for those final 8! You go girl!! 🙂 Hope you’re doing well!!

      Reply
  12. Ashleigh says

    April 21, 2015 at 8:52 am

    Thanks so much for your review! I’m currently learning 93 as it’s being released this week at my gym (up in Canada). I don’t need to teach it until next week though. At team practice I noticed a lot of the same things you pointed out – especially that lunge track!! I agree with you about the squat song… it gets a little flat by the mid-point. And I’m not loving the shoulder song, it’s a little too techno remixed for me, but the work is tough!

    Thanks again, you helped me learn a little bit more 🙂
    Ashleigh recently posted…Birthday Burgers and Killer LegsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 21, 2015 at 6:33 pm

      Hi Ashleigh! So glad you enjoyed the review! And I hope you have a good launch at your gym next week for the new release. It’s a fun one! Happy pumping to you!!! 🙂 Kia Kaha!

      Reply
  13. Jen@jpabstfitness says

    April 21, 2015 at 9:31 am

    I have never taken a Bodypump class, but now I want to!!
    Jen@jpabstfitness recently posted…A Break from the RainMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 21, 2015 at 6:33 pm

      Hi Jen! Everyone should experience a Les Mills class one day! Hope you get to soon! Have a great night! 🙂

      Reply
  14. Jenna says

    April 21, 2015 at 11:31 am

    I always look forward to your reviews! I’ve actually been the opposite of you when it comes to learning the choreography. I have had a lot of trouble for some reason. I think it’s a combination of learning three other format’s choreography and the repetition. I enjoy mixing sets up to keep things different. I love the back track and lunge track but am not a huge fan of the debbie downer chest track. I agree, it’s too somber. I appreciate all the plate work and hope to see more of it in the next release. Overall a fun experience in my opinion!
    Jenna recently posted…Perfect weather and company for hikingMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 21, 2015 at 6:35 pm

      Hi Jenna! I know it’s hard when you have multiple programs. I didn’t even learn the new CXWORX this time because I didn’t have to launch it, and but had to teach BODYATTACK on a Monday and BODYPUMP on a Tuesday, so it was cramming time. But as you know, the longer you teach programs, the faster you learn them! Happy pumping to you! 🙂

      Reply
  15. Courtney! says

    April 21, 2015 at 2:59 pm

    Great playlist! I haven’t heard anything about the new release at my gym yet.
    Courtney! recently posted…MARATHON MONDAY!My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 21, 2015 at 6:31 pm

      Hi Courtney! Really? Seems like it should be happening soon! Hope you get to try it. Have a great night! 🙂

      Reply
  16. Melissa says

    April 21, 2015 at 3:33 pm

    I love your reviews! I agree 100% with you on the triceps track – love love love it! I actually love the entire release. We launch on Thursday and I can’t wait! So, since I haven’t actually taught it yet, I wonder if my opinions will change. 🙂 I haven’t spent as much time with it as I normally do with new releases because I’m going to AIM 1 for BodyCombat Friday and have spent more time than normal on Combat. But, Pump is my true love.

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 21, 2015 at 6:31 pm

      Hi Melissa! Good luck with your launch! Have fun with it! You’ll see people dying in lunges for some reason, but I don’t find it that bad using chest weight. And that’s awesome you’re going to AIM1 for BODYCOMBAT! Enjoy it! Definitely takes the teaching and technique up a notch! Kia Kaha!

      Reply
  17. Megan says

    April 21, 2015 at 7:28 pm

    I’ve been looking forward to a review on 93! The gym I go to just launched it last weekend & I’ve only been able to do it twice so far. I never seem to really like a release at first but then it kind of grows on me, I guess. I’m glad that they switched up the chest/triceps & got rid of the bar (but I wish we did something other than flys the entire time). And that shoulder track — holy moly — I love it but it’s a killer!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 21, 2015 at 9:00 pm

      Hi Megan! Yes, I find that the releases grow on me a bit too. Of course, I have the ability to practice a lot before debuting in the gym in front of people. Glad you’re enjoying 93 so far! Up your weight, girl! 🙂 Happy pumping!
      Ashley recently posted…Les Mills BODYPUMP 93 class reviewMy Profile

      Reply
  18. Fiona says

    April 21, 2015 at 7:34 pm

    Love hearing your reviews of the classes! I just did the new release on Monday and I have to say that I felt like the first half was easier then the second..man that lunge track and the shoulder track….aye aye aye…though I didn’t feel at ALL challenged by the squat track…I was feeling every part of my body come today so that means something! I’m excited to keep trying it and I always find it takes me a few classes to get into the release, though I did like this one better then last release…

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 22, 2015 at 9:27 pm

      Hi Fiona! So weird, I responded to your comment yesterday and now it has disappeared. Did you get it? Anyways, I agree that the squat track needs more! And yes, this one will take time to grow on you, as they always do. Hope all is well with you, lady! 🙂
      Ashley recently posted…Food pictures from a light and healthy dayMy Profile

      Reply
      • Fiona says

        April 23, 2015 at 4:57 am

        No it didn’t come through, how weird! I am excited to get the full 2-3 weeks of the release…I actually did find the whole thing challenging (’cause I could feel it the next day) but I think I loved a few releases back more, like maybe 90, 91….But the best thing about these classes is that you NEVER get bored! It’s always and forever changing!

        Reply
        • Ashley says

          April 23, 2015 at 7:05 am

          Never get bored is SO right, Fiona! 🙂

          Reply
  19. Cara's Healthy Cravings says

    April 23, 2015 at 5:12 pm

    Trying this release tomorrow night, I can’t wait! Thanks for the great review 🙂

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 23, 2015 at 5:16 pm

      Yay Cara! Awesome! I hope you enjoy it! Pump it up! 😉

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Friday Favorites: Goodies and a yoga giveaway - A Lady Goes WestA Lady Goes West says:
    April 24, 2015 at 2:16 am

    […] Pump it up — Les Mills BODYPUMP 93 class review […]

    Reply
  2. Friday Things! - Olives 'n Wine says:
    April 24, 2015 at 1:12 pm

    […] Watch out if you come tomorrow 😉 And if you want more 93 reviews, check out Annette’s and Ashley’s awesome thoughts and tips for this […]

    Reply
  3. BODYPUMP 93 {review} | running4cupcakes says:
    May 7, 2015 at 4:15 am

    […] And if you want more 93 reviews, check outAnnette’s, Ashley’s and Ashley’s!! […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

ashley bio pic

Hi, I'm Ashley. I'm a mom and fitness instructor living in Charlotte, North Carolina. I love to help you live a balanced life with no extremes, making sure you never skip a rest day. A Lady Goes West is where I share my workouts, simple meals, clean beauty tips and wellness insight with you. Find out more about me and stay awhile!

Connect with me

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Search This Blog

Follow

Get my ebook

Fit & Fertile ebook: How I found my body's fitness from the inside out by overcoming hypothalamic amenorrhea.

Recent Posts

  • Ask-me-anything A Lady Goes West Advice Corner: first edition
  • Current faves: Our new house, new sneakers and workouts
  • Current faves: Moving day, easy breakfasts, TV and workouts
  • Five new things I’ve added to my life in the last year that I love
  • Current faves: The latest on life, a new phone, snow and workouts

SIGN UP FOR A FREE GIFT

Get a free "How to have a great week of workouts" checklist and action plan when you sign up for the list. Your email address will automatically be added and stored to receive new posts by email and more. See the Privacy Policy for details.

Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

The latest on Instagram

I've got to be honest, I'm much more of a writer t I've got to be honest, I'm much more of a writer than an Instagrammer and many times I feel like what I want to share doesn't fit well into a grid. But I'm able to bring much more long-form content to my blog each week. Speaking of that, this week, I debuted a new series called "A Lady Goes West Advice Corner" which has been something I've wanted to put together for a while. In this series, I'm taking totally anonymous questions from YOU and giving you some neutral third-party advice on it all. Here are the questions I addressed in the first advice corner edition:
.
-“I became a first-time mom last spring and am currently dealing with all things motherhood. How do I deal with my expectations vs. reality of being a mom?" (such a good one, and I've been there)
-“How do you deal with days when you don't love your body? I think we can all relate to looking in the mirror and being disappointed with what we see?" (this happens to us all)
-“How do you deal with comparing yourself to others on social media and not feeling like everyone is doing things better than you?" (spoiler alert: everyone has their issues that you don't see)
.
The answers are long, they come from my heart, and I hope they can provide some value to you! If this is something you're interested in, head over to A Lady Goes West today to check it out, and you can submit a question for the next edition.
.
Here's the direct link: https://aladygoeswest.com/ask-me-anything-a-lady-goes-west-advice-corner-first-edition/
.
Have a great night, friends! And when in doubt, talk it out.
G.I.V.E.A.W.A.Y!🎉 Who doesn't love a collagen g G.I.V.E.A.W.A.Y!🎉 Who doesn't love a collagen giveaway? As a little thank-you for following, I wanted to do a giveaway of one of my favorite products. I've been using Vital Proteins collagen in my morning tea latte for years, and not only does the collagen creamer add a great taste, but it also supports healthy hair, skin, nails and joints too. Today, I'm giving away not only one canister of collagen creamer, but also a canister of collagen peptides to one lucky winner.
.
Here's how to enter:
(1) Like this post.
(2) Follow @aladygoeswest and @vitalproteins.
(3) Leave a comment on this post tagging a friend who wants healthy skin and joints.
.
You can leave as many comments as you want, and each one serves as an entry. You can earn an additional entry by sharing this post to your stories and tagging me. This giveaway closes on Saturday, February 27. The winner must live in the U.S. And this giveaway is not associated with Instagram. Good luck, and thanks for being here! 🙂 xoxo
HOME! We closed on and moved into our home in Char HOME! We closed on and moved into our home in Charlotte over the weekend, and we're so excited to get settled in our new neighborhood, city and state after many weeks of transition. In honor of this momentous occasion, I thought it would be fun to look back at the places Dave and I have lived together over the last 12 years. Here's what it has looked like -- and each place has been special for different reasons:
.
-2009-2012 in a high-rise condo in downtown Orlando, where we lived when we got married.
-2012-2013 in a one-bedroom apartment in South of Market in San Francisco, which was always freezing no matter the time of day or year.
-2013-2014 in a tiny studio apartment in Nob Hill in San Francisco, which was only 550-square-feet, but we could hear the cable cars out of our always-open windows, so that was cool.
-2014-2017 in a two-bedroom townhouse in Walnut Creek, where we brought home both Rudy and Brady and had many sleepless nights.
-2017-2021 in a house that we owned in Pleasant Hill outside of San Francisco, which was across the street from a Starbucks so we went there way too often.
.
And now we're here in Charlotte. It's good to be home! I'd love to know: Where do you call home?
Soulmates. ❤️ Whether you’re loving on other Soulmates. ❤️ Whether you’re loving on others or just yourself today, my little crew is wishing you a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
Good additions! Even though I'm all about simplify Good additions! Even though I'm all about simplifying life, I also like adding more good, if there's room for it. And the last year has given me ample opportunity to make some changes and add a lot of good. Here's my super-random list of things I've added to my life in the last year that I now love:
.
-Using oat milk as my milk of choice (it's literally the creamiest, and I can’t go back to others now)
-Choosing to be outside as much as possible (can't believe I stayed indoors so much before, never exploring the beautiful Bay Area and now Charlotte until the last year)
-Teaching and taking virtual fitness classes (I was a gym rat for years, and now I actually love to work out at home with my virtual fitness friends)
-Wearing my Apple watch for notifications so I don't always need to be on my phone and tracking some beneficial metrics (I've only had my watch for about 9 months, and I love to check my heart-rate and close my rings)
-Appreciating the ability to work for myself and giving myself friendlier deadlines (I've been my own boss for several years and used to be so strict with my deadlines, until I realized it was stressing me more than it needed to, so now I say no to a lot of things and only do what works well in my life, without adding too much unnecessary stress)
-Shorter workouts (full-hour workouts are a thing of the past for me)
-Wearing more colors (no more black uniforms every day)
-And more!
.
I wrote a whole post about this topic on A Lady Goes West this week if this is of interest to you, and you can head on over and check it out. I'd love to know: What's something (random or not) that you've added to your life in the last year that you now love?
Over the weekend, I stepped foot into a big-box gy Over the weekend, I stepped foot into a big-box gym for the first time in more than 11 months. How did I feel about it? Mixed ... When we left California, gyms were still closed, and once we got to North Carolina, I was so used to not going to the gym, I didn't even think about going. After being here a month, I finally decided to get a guest pass at a gym near me, and I went twice. Here are my thoughts on the experience: 
.
At first, I felt so excited to drive up and go in and work out in a big space with a lot of equipment and not be at home. But then reality sank in: Even though masks were required and there were signs everywhere reminding people, about half the folks in the gym had their masks off or had them down around their chin. Ummm, not cool. I get it, working out with a mask on sucks, but rules are rules, folks. I also didn't like that it was busier than I expected, and quite a bit of the equipment I wanted to use was occupied. That never happens at home.
.
Overall, I'm glad that those who need to get to the gym are getting the opportunity, but right now, I think I'll go back to sweating safely at home for a little while longer. But at least I got my first locker-room selfie in almost a year. I'd love to know. Have you been back to the gym yet?
Load More... Follow on Instagram

As seen on

A Lady Goes West is a personal blog meant for entertainment purposes only and does not serve as a substitute for professional advice from your own doctor, trainer or nutritionist. While I'm a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor, the workouts, food and plans I post are what works for me and may not work for you. Please enjoy these stories and tips from my life, but proceed with caution. Also, know that affiliate links and sponsored posts appear from time-to-time, and I appreciate your support. For more information about how your data is stored, visit my Privacy Policy. Thanks for reading!

Copyright © 2021 Ashley Pitt (A Lady Goes West) · Design by MakeMe{dia}Over